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My son turned ten just the other dayHe said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's playCan you teach me to throw?"; I said, "Not today,I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok."And he walked away but his smile never dimmedAnd said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah,You know I'm gonna be like him"

Draco could tell by the shape and the size of the package that it was a broom. Being a Malfoy, he knew that it was the best and most expensive broom available on the market. He opened the package to find a Nimbus 1999 racing boom.

"Thank you, Mother, Father," he said, looking at his parents. "Father, would you have time to go for a fly with me?" He was almost certain of the answer he would receive, as it was something which happened on a regular basis. If he was truly honest with himself, he would admit that he was surprised that his father had actually been home for his birthday.

Lucius took him aside and frowned at him. "Draco, you should be grateful that I had time to stay and watch you open your present. You know that I work at the Ministry and I am on the board of governors at Hogwarts. I am a very busy man. Thank Merlin we have plans to send you to Durmstrang, a true wizarding school. No son of mine will be going to Hogwarts with a bunch of Mudbloods, blood traitors and half-bloods. You will be taught the Dark Arts and you will become a fine Dark wizard one day."

Draco saw his mother cringe at the mention of Durmstrang, and that was when he left. He knew how to fly a broom, naturally, so he didn't need for his father to go flying with him.

As he mounted the broom and took off into the air, he thought about the few things that his father had told him.

"Draco, you are a Malfoy. The blood which runs in your veins is pure – there is not a Muggle anywhere in our lineage to taint our blood. Remember that you are better than everyone else."

"Only purebloods should be allowed to learn magic, Draco. Remember that Muggleborns, half- bloods and blood traitors are a waste of space and of talent."

"I proudly served the Dark Lord, Draco, before he vanished nine years ago. No one knows what happened to him that night, but should he ever return, you are to serve him faithfully and follow in my footsteps."

Draco, during the times when his father wasn't at home, was given a different set of ideals from his mother. She, too, instilled in him the importance of blood purity, but somehow Draco had the feeling that his mother wasn't the fanatic that his father was. She showed him the finer side of life as a Malfoy – the parties, the reputation, the ambiance.

His father, well, he sometimes wondered if his father wanted a son simply to carry on the name of Malfoy and to one day support the Dark Lord if he would ever return. He was simply a commodity.

~*~

Draco followed his mother down Diagon Alley, on their way to shop for the supplies he would need for Hogwarts. In the end, his mother's persistence had paid off and that was where he was going.

"Draco, we'll be going to Gringotts first and then we'll go to Madame Malkin's to get your robes." She looked at her son; she knew that he was disappointed that Lucius wasn't here. "Draco, I know that your father said he'd be here but he had something come up at the last minute."

"It's quite all right, Mother."

Draco's voice was calm and the look on his face was so much like Lucius that it gripped at her heart and squeezed it until it nearly skipped a beat. She found herself glad that Draco was soon going to Hogwarts. Sending him to Durmstrang would have been a big mistake.

~*~

Draco couldn't believe it was happening and wondered if perhaps it was a dream. His father was accompanying him to purchase his school supplies. When his father escorted him into Borgin and Burkes, his heart sank. As always, it was business with his father. But at least he was spending time with him.

Later, back at the Manor, Draco decided that it was time to take a chance.

"Father, you know how I told you that no-good Potter got on the Quidditch team at school?"

Lucius looked up from the parchment he had been studying. "Yes, what of it? I'm very busy, Draco. The Ministry is doing raids and if they come here..."

"Father, I am a good flier and I know that you enjoy Quidditch. Wouldn't you be proud to be able to come and watch me play? I know that you have come to matches before and..."

"And what makes you think they will let you on the team?" Lucius' eyebrow raised at his son while he waited for an answer.

"Maybe a little encouragement..." Draco began, then realized what that sounded like. "You bought me a new broom, perhaps the team could use some new brooms as well."

Lucius was quiet for a moment and Draco was afraid of what he might do. But then he heard a very strange sound. He heard his father laughing. "Finally, my boy is learning what it truly means to be a Malfoy. That sometimes we have to buy our way in to places. Very well, Draco. I will buy new brooms for the team. Now go. I have work to do."

Draco had a hard time keeping in the joy that he felt. His father approved of him and had actually had a short conversation with him. Draco could feel it. He was starting to become like his father.

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoonLittle boy blue and the man on the moonWhen you comin' home son?I don't know when, but we'll get together then sonYou know we'll have a good time then

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